The A.W. Faber-Castell company, founded in 1761, has been owned by the Faber-Castell family for eight generations and operates worldwide in over 20 locations. Carpenter Kaspar Faber laid the foundation for the world’s most successful lead and coloured pencil concern in the town of Stein, just outside Nuremberg. That was 250 years ago but the company’s headquarters remain there to this day. It is also the location of the family’s castle, a complex comprising two components: the old castle built in 1872 and the new castle which was completed in 1906.

The former family seat is now open to the public and forms part of the company’s brand profile. The permanent exhibition covering the history of both the family and the firm’s products makes use of the extensive lobby over three levels of the new castle, displaying exhibits and at the same time creating a visually striking composition which responds to the historic space. The display cases are an expressive complement to the sumptuous architecture. This modern art gallery boasts an adaptable format comprised of free-standing framework modules with integrated light to allow flexible exhibitions.

Szenography

Exhibits from the company and family history are shown in a landcape of light mirrors

A modern gallery of ancestors in the castle

Historical plaster casts of sculptures from the castle façade

The porcelain knight is an exhibition highlight from the landscape of display cabinets

The Polychromos series is emphasised as an important product in the company's history